Even as a fine artist who paints for a living I still have to fight for the time to do it. Other things are always pulling at me (including that darn laundry)! I used to feel guilty when I wasn’t in my studio, but I’ve finally realized that some part of my mind is always working on my art. Inspiration is everywhere and a quick peek at the photos on my phone will reveal how much they influence the forms and colors in my paintings.
Remember that old saying, garbage in garbage out? I think they were referring to food, but it also applies to art. I find that I have to curate what imagery and stories I spend my time with because generally what I allow in to my mind is also what pops out in my paintings, even if it’s in a slightly different form.
I tend to paint very intuitively, first making backgrounds and then deciding later how to use to them. I don’t usually do a lot of planning and sketching until that point, so sometimes even I am surprised by the finished product. I tend to create imagined landscapes with lush botanical forms and vibrant colors, but I’ve recently realized that my abstractions of nature are not always so abstract. Below are two interesting examples of that. I had no intention of painting either of these subjects, but that’s what came out as I went along.
This turned into a loose representation of Mt. Olomana, which I lived close to for nearly 20 years of my life. It’s not quite the same but what means much more to me is that it reminds me of that beautiful mountain and my fond memories of living there. I prefer to capture the feeling of a place rather than a literal depiction of it and that’s what happened here.
This moonscape was a real surprise! After stepping back to look at it I realized it is very heavy influenced by the Japanese card game I played as a child in Hawaii. I haven’t thought of Hanafuda cards in years, but I remember loving the illustrations. I must have tucked them away in my memory for later, and here they are resurfacing in my painting.
So even if you aren’t actively creating art every day you are still collecting what you’ll need for later. Who knows what will appear next time you make the time to create?
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Linda Robertson is a painter and the author of the Embracing Encaustic book series. She offers live encaustic workshops in her Portland, Oregon studio as well as online encaustic classes.
I love capturing the translucency of light in my paintings, but it’s even easier when working with wax and paper. The most dramatic way I’ve found to show this off is with my wax scrolls.
As many of you know my sweet studio dog Jack was diagnosed with cancer last month. The vet found a tumor on his belly that needed to be operated on right away. Within 2 days he’d had the surgery and after a few complications he is now cancer free and on the mend. I’m so very thankful that he will be OK.
In college I was one of 10 artists who received a scholarship through California State University to create my work on the 
I often try new mediums and methods to remind myself how it feels to try something completely new because 
For the past several weeks I’ve been distracted by our political turmoil, spending much more time outside my studio making my voice heard. Democracy can be messy and exhausting and I definitely need a break. More specifically I need an ART break. Maybe you do too?
It been an unusually cold winter here in Oregon. I know everyone laughs about us panicking at the first snowflake, but these ice storms are no joke!
Most of these painting were started while I was away on a 
Ko’olau Sunset, Watercolor, oil and cold wax, 8 x 8 in., SOLD
Kailua Morning, Watercolor, oil and cold wax, 8 x 8 in.
Windswept, Watercolor, oil and encaustic, 8 x 8 in.
Fiery Shore,Watercolor, oil and encaustic, 8 x 8 in.
[Image at right: Invisible Forces, 12 x 9 in. by Linda Robertson, encaustic]
